Lead Shader Artist – Unreal 5 Materials & Mentorship

2K; Brighton; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-known gaming studio in Brighton is seeking a highly skilled Lead Technical Artist. This role involves defining material workflows and collaborating with teams to achieve top-tier visuals. The ideal candidate should have at least 7 years of experience in the gaming industry and proven expertise in Unreal Engine 5. Candidates must be onsite at least 3 days a week. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years’ experience in the games industry, with at least 2 shipped AAA titles.
• Proven track record as a Senior or Lead Shader/Material Artist on a large‑scale project.
• Expert-level proficiency in Unreal Engine 5 material editor, shader graph, and rendering pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the visual and technical quality bar for all shaders and materials in the project.
• Lead R&D into UE5’s advanced rendering features to enhance the project’s material systems.
• Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of shader/material artists and technical artists.

Skills

Unreal Engine 5 material editor

Shader graph

PBR workflows

Leadership

Collaboration skills

Tools

Substance Designer

Houdini

Job description

A well-known gaming studio in Brighton is seeking a highly skilled Lead Technical Artist. This role involves defining material workflows and collaborating with teams to achieve top-tier visuals. The ideal candidate should have at least 7 years of experience in the gaming industry and proven expertise in Unreal Engine 5. Candidates must be onsite at least 3 days a week. Competitive salary and benefits offered.